Homebrew PCBs

On Wed, 24 Mar 2004 17:15:35 -0000, Phil <phil1960us@...> wrote:

> I etch then drill but then I'm not doing plated through holes.
>
> To do a good drilling job you really need a drill press and carbide
> bits.  the HS steel ones just wear out too quickly though the aren't
> as brittle as carbide.  You can get a small drill press for well
> under $100 and the dremel kits are reasonably priced, too.  Because a
> drill press has a lot of other uses, I see it as a no-brainer
> acquisition.
>
> I use a cross sliding vise with my drill press.  once I have the vise
> lined up and the board aligned to the vise it becomes very easy to
> drill holes with in a few mils of the target.
>
> Still, I hate drilling.  Its the worst part of the process for me so
> I bias towards surface mount components.  Mixed through-hole and smt
> works pretty well though you will have to do more vias.
>
>

I totally disagree on the carbide is the only way topic.
With a HSS bit you can easily do one board and they are very easy to 
sharpen.

You can drill without a drill stand, which self centers the drill.

The problem was centering of the drill.
carbide and a drill stand will NOT solve this problem, quite the opposite.

I do agree that carbide drills are much better for FR4 but it will not 
solve
the problem for which help was needed.

ST